Wavelength-scanning Talbot effect and its application for arbitrary three-dimensional step-height measurement

We demonstrate the phenomenon of Talbot self-image plane shift by tuning the wavelength of the broadband light source. A superluminescent diode (SLD) is used as a broad-band light source and an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) as wavelength-scanning device. A periodic grating is illuminated by the wavelength tuned light of SLD using AOTF and Talbot self-image plane is shifted continuously in the longitudinal direction without mechanically moving the grating. The wavelength-scanning Talbot effect is then implemented for the measurement of arbitrary step-height of discontinuous objects with extended range. The main advantages of the proposed system are non-mechanical scanning, high stability because of it’s common-path geometry and compactness. Since the measurement of the phase is not required the system is free from phase ambiguity problem and therefore, the range of measurement is large as compare to interferometric techniques.     

Nonadiabatic geometric phase in quaternionic Hilbert space

We develop the theory of the nonadiabatic geometric phase, in both the Abelian and non-Abelian cases, in quaternionic Hilbert space.     

Photochemical and thermal transformations of azomethine imines

The thermal and photochemical fragmentations of a few bisazoalkenes have been investigated. 2-Phenyl-4,5-disubstituted-1, 2,3-triazoles were obtained both in the thermolysis and photolysis of 1, 2-bisphenylazo-(4, 4′-dichloro) stilbene, 1, 2-bisphenylazo(4, 4′-dimethoxy)stilbene, 1, 2-bisphenylazocyclohexene and o-(phenylazo) phenyldiazocyanide. Both 2, 3-bisphenylazo-2-butene and 1, 2-bisphenylazoethylene failed to undergo either photolysis or thermolysis in the expected manner. However, 2, 3-bisphenylazo-2-butene underwent an acid-catalysed valence isomerisation to anhydro 1-phenylimino-2-phenyl-4, 5-dimethyl-1, 2, 3-trizolium hydroxide, which on photolysis gave 2-phenyl-4, 5-dimethyl-1, 2, 3-triazole. The same iminotriazolium intermediate gave a cycloadduct, 2, 6-diphenyl-3, 3a-dimethyl-4, 5-dicarbomethoxypyrazolino [2.3.c][1.2.3] triazole, on treatment with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate, whereas treatment with carbon disulphide gave 2-phenyl-4, 5-dimethyl-1, 2, 3-triazole. Both photolysis and thermolysis of C-biphenylene-N^α(4-chlorophenyl)-N^β-cyanoazomethine imine gave 9-fluorenone-N- (4-chlorophenyl) anil. Photolysis of 1, 2-bisphenylazoacenaphthylene in methanol gave acenaphthenequinone monophenylhydrazone.     

Parallel synthesis of PNA-peptide conjugate libraries

An optimized semi-automatic protocol for parallel synthesis of up to 96 peptide nucleic acids (PNA) or PNA-peptide conjugates using Boc-protection strategy has been developed using a robotic system. The approach is illustrated by synthesizing PNA and PNA-peptide libraries varying between 15 and 27 amino acid units. The peptides (NLS (nuclear localization signal) or Tat-peptide) were attached to N-terminus of the PNA. The method was found to be far superior to that based on the SPOT/Fmoc protocol by which PNA oligomers are synthesized on a modified cellulose membrane. On a 0.5 micromole scale the method typically yielded 2 mg product of 90% purity by HPLC/MALDI-TOF analysis. This approach is suitable for screening of a large number of PNA and/or peptide sequences for biochemical and biological studies.     

Ab initio and DFT studies on tautomerism of indazole in gaseous and aqueous phases

Electronic structure of optimized Ge₅, Ge₁₇, Ge₅–O and Ge₅ embedded in SiO₂ nanoparticles have been studied by density functional theory to find out the effect of cluster size and Ge–O bond(s) on the optical energy gap between LUMO and HOMO. It was found that the optical energy gap depends on both cluster size and the number of Ge–O bonds nonlinearly. The optical energy gap was found to be in visible light range when the Ge₅ nanoparticle has been embedded in SiO₂ matrix.     

Synthesis and utility of new amine/nucleobase addition products of allenylphosphonates

In the reaction of allenylphosphonates with amines/nucleobases, depending on the amine and the allenylphosphonate, either Z- or E-vinylphosphonate or allylphosphonate as a single isomer with a β-amino functionality was isolated. A simple route to phosphonates with a β-NH₂ group is developed by direct reaction with ammonia. In reactions with adenine, three different modes of reaction, with one of them involving an unusual cyclisation, are observed. The utility of (enamino)allyl phosphonate products thus obtained in the synthesis of (enamino)-1,3-butadienes via Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) reaction is also demonstrated.     

Investigations of the effect of viscosity of resin on the diffusion of pyrene in silicone polymer coatings using steady state fluorescence technique

The diffusion phenomenon of pyrene in silicone coatings prepared from various commercial silicone resins with different viscosities was investigated using steady state excimer fluorescence technique. The amount of pyrene lost from the coatings by diffusion at different temperatures ranging from 25 to 70 °C was estimated from the excimer emission intensity. The diffusion coefficients (D) and activation energy of diffusion of pyrene in silicone coatings were determined. It was found that the kinetic parameters of pyrene were comparable in all the four silicone coatings and independent of the viscosity of the resin. The D values were lower than those expected for pyrene in PDMS resins in the corresponding viscosity range. This may be attributed to restricted mobility of pyrene due to cross-linking of polymer chains in the cured silicone coatings.